In Deep Water

Biblical shalom involves wholeness, delight, and a sense of meaning and purpose for all of God’s creation. Shalom is the way things are supposed to be! This includes four facets: peace with nature, peace in society, peace with ourselves, and peace with God. This is the first in the series on peace with God.
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Only a few people in the Bible are described as “righteous” and “blameless” in God’s sight. Noah was one. I found this passage in Genesis about Noah to be a powerful one: “The Lord saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. The Lord was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. . . . But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. This is the account of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God” (6:5-6, 8-9, NIV).

As the story of Noah is traced through the following chapters of Genesis, the refrain that repeatedly appears is this: “Noah did everything just as God commanded him.” When God ordered him to build an ark with specific measurements out of cypress wood and to arrange for the preservation of animals as well as his family, Noah did so (6:22). When God told Noah to enter the ark because the rain was about to begin which would flood the earth, Noah did so (7:5). When God informed Noah that the flood was over and he should leave the ark, Noah did so (8:18).

Sometimes when we face challenges and we feel God is leading us to do something that seems to be a mistake or too great a risk, we resist taking this step. In the short run, we don’t want to be ridiculed or found to have made a big mistake. I think Noah experienced this and so have I. But, in my life I have seen how things often develop over time in ways we never anticipated and then we are finally able to understand why God lead us to make a decision that seemed unwise in the short term. Maybe taking all of those stinking animals into the ark was one of those short term/long term dilemmas!

Because of Noah’s complete trust in God, his relationship with God was one of shalom. There is no record of Noah ever doubting God or raising objections to his commands. Is it any wonder that God chose to establish a special covenant with his righteous man?

Like Noah, when we’re in deep water, it’s best to trust God. Peace with God, as we see in the life of Noah, is built in a foundation of trust.

So What?

• Let’s face the truth – few of us are as trustworthy and obedient as Noah. Some of us with Type A personalities have an especially difficult time with this. I often wonder why God doesn’t listen to me and do things the way I think they should be done – but working in Russia for over 20 years has certainly taught me it’s best to let God be in charge and stop giving him instructions! Do you also struggle with this – trusting God completely?
• I would be thrilled if, at the end of my life, my family and friends could say “He walked with God” (like Noah). It is so hard to put our complete trust in God because so many influences in our culture pressure us to be our own “master” or to be “captains of our own ship.” “You’re in charge” – that’s what we hear. Biblical shalom is so radically counter-cultural. It teaches us to trust God and to be at peace with our Creator.